Press Release
Tree of Life Tree Lighting Ceremony Honors People with HIV/AIDS on World AIDS Day
WHAT: Mama’s Kitchen, a non-profit meal delivery service providing nutritional meals year-round to San Diegans affected by AIDS is hosting the 14th annual “Tree of Life” tree lighting ceremony on World AIDS Day 2005.
Hundreds of San Diegans will gather to remember members of our community who have lost their lives to AIDS and honor those who continue to live with the disease.
Keynote addresses from Academy Award Winning Actress Rita Moreno, Congresswoman Susan Davis, and Terry Cunningham, Chief of HIV, STD and Hepatitis Branch, San Diego County Public Health Services
In conjunction with the event, a candlelight vigil, co-sponsored by the San Diego County Office of AIDS Coordination, will be led by Terry Cunningham.
WHEN: Thursday, December 1, 2005
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Community Participation
Visit by Deputy Mayor Toni Atkins
6:30 p.m. Program Begins and Keynote addresses
6:45 p.m. Tree Lighting, Candlelight Vigil, and Messages from the Heart
6:55 p.m. Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego
7:05 p.m. Closing Remarks
7:10 p.m. Program Ends
WHERE: Village Hillcrest Retail Center
3965 Fifth Avenue (corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Street)
San Diego, CA 92103
- Attendees personalizing ornaments and hanging them on the tree in honor and remembrance of loved ones
- Keynote address by Academy Award Winning Actress Rita Moreno
- Keynote address by Congresswoman Susan Davis
- Viewing of AIDS Quilts
- Candlelight Vigil led by the San Diego County Office of AIDS Coordination
- Performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego
- Interviews with Mama’s Executive Director Alberto Cortés, Academy Award Winning Actress Rita Moreno, Congresswoman Susan Davis, Terry Cunningham from the San Diego County Public Health Services, and Mama’s Board President John Pelkey
About Mama's Kitchen
Mama's Kitchen was founded in 1990 when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund, a food bank for people with AIDS, discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves. They realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious food. Today, Mama's Kitchen prepares and delivers three meals a day for every day of the week to about 300 men, women, and children affected by AIDS or other critical illnesses in San Diego County. Mama’s Kitchen is located at 1875 Second Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. For more information, visit http://www.mamaskitchen.org.
Immediate Release Contact:
Melinda Balkom, Director of Development and Communications, Mama’s Kitchen
Direct: 619-233-6262 x112 | melinda@mamaskitchen.org
